Category: Podcast
Conservation and Science is a podcast about human-wildlife interactions and our relationship with nature. I talk with world-class scientists, members of environmental organisations, practical conservationists, farmers, nature writers, and last but not least, hunters and anglers. My conversations cover biodiversity, conservation, hunting and fishing, rewilding and more. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
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161: Archery Insights with Jim Clark
It feels like I’m one of the only very few who talks about bowhunting with European listeners in mind. Indeed, I would like to see hunting with archery tackle being legalised and popularised on the old continent. In my view, the notions that it’s inhumane or somehow unethical are ill-advised and plain wrong. It is especially disturbing when such unwise opinions are expressed with confidence by hunters or veterinary practitioners who have no experience or previous exposure to bowhunting. To…
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160: Safari Club International with Ben Cassidy
Safari Club International (SCI) is one of the world’s most prominent hunting organisations. They pride themselves on being the leader in defending the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation across the world. Their tagline, “First for Hunters” says it all, really. Today, we continue the exploration of the public perception of hunting, the issue of social license to hunt and some current topics related to hunting. Certain issues such as the use of lead in hunting ammunition or the…
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159: Polar Bears in a Warming World with Andrew Derocher
Last week I published a blog post where I set out to answer the question of whether polar bears are facing impending extinction due to climate change or are they, in fact, doing better than ever. Around the time when I was investigating this question, I got in touch with Professor Andrew Derocher from the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta, who has studied polar bears for over 40 years. He specialises in ecology, conservation, and management…
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158: Wildlife In The Balance with Simon Mustoe
This is one of the most thought-provoking books I have read. Although I don’t agree with everything in the book, I can overlook my disagreements because of how brilliant some parts that I do agree with are. So I couldn’t wait to sit down with the author, expert ecologist, Simon Mustoe for a chat about his views and, of course, about the book. In his book, “Wildlife in The Balance”, Simon lays out the case for animals being the most…
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157: Is The Red Wolf a Real Species? Conversation with Peter Brewitt
Without exaggeration, red wolves are my favourite canid species. I don’t exactly remember where and when I heard about them for the first time but I really got interested after reading an excellent book by Dan Flores, “Coyote America”. The history of this species and the inept and ultimately futile conservation and recovery programs are something that anyone interested in conservation should be familiar with. Well, maybe I’m being slightly unfair as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service still runs…
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156: Save Blackswarth Road Wood with Phil Sturgeon
Some things are so tiny yet so central that they matter more than giant things elsewhere. This is a paraphrased message I got from Phil Sturgeon, an ex-techie and founder of Protect Earth charity, who dedicated his life to woodland creation and restoration. As it turns out, Phil is running a fundraiser to buy five acres of mature woodland in Crew’s Hole, Bristol, for the long-term benefit of the community, wildlife and, of course, the climate. I have been following…
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155: Sixgill Sharks and Flapper Skates with Patrick Collins
The sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) is the largest of the Hexanchiformes order of sharks, the most primitive living sharks, sometimes called “fossil sharks”. The sixgill, sometimes known as the blunt nose sixgill or cow shark, can grow to over 6 metres (20 feet) in length and weigh over a tonne. What’s interesting is that in Ireland one can catch one of these beasts with rod and line, most famously with the help of master skipper Luke Aston, who is not…
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154: Hunting Europe: The Present and Future with David Scallan
It was my great pleasure to once again welcome to my show Dr David Scallan, the Secretary General of the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE). It has been over three years since the last time we spoke on the podcast. So I felt that it was high time to talk with David again as there is a lot going on for hunters and hunting organisations at the moment. We discuss a range of topics that are important to…
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153: Do You Believe in Climate Change?
This episode is slightly different from the usual format. It is a solo episode, so no guest today. I decided to record it because of a few bothersome messages I have received recently regarding climate change. But don’t worry, I will not repeat all the same information you get bombarded with on social media. And I will not reference any research or peer-reviewed papers. Besides, we know that facts don’t change minds. Instead, I will give you my personal view…
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152: From Anti-hunter to Advocate with Philippe Jaeger
Hunting is a frequent topic on my podcast. It lies in the epicentre of the unnecessary divide in wildlife conservation space. It evokes strong emotions and is often the source of fierce debate and conflict. So today I’m bringing you my conversation with a man who has been on both sides of that argument. Philippe Jaeger is a hunting journalist who in his youth was a member of a radical anti-hunting group. I met with Philippe during the International Journalism…